ACCESSORIES
It's easy to look good without breaking a sweat
this summer with the right beach accessories.
Thongs or sandals are a must to show off this
season's sorbet colour nail polishes and tanned
summer legs. A good beach bag is also a
must-have and are now available in a range of
fabrics and styles for a more fashion-forward
look. Bags made in supersuede (traditional
boardshort material) are perfect for the beach.
Quick drying,
compact and
lightweight, they
carry anything from
wet swimwear,
sunblock and
thongs, but scrunch
down for space-
saving packing
when going to and
from your holiday
destination.
Fashion tips
FROM ROXY DESIGNER BONNIE DAVIS
The Bellarine Peninsula is very popular over
the summer holidays with families packing into
holiday accommodation along the coast.
Thirteenth Beach offers a great variety of waves
for the intermediate to advanced surfers willing
to navigate the reefs and crowds.
Over the Barwon Heads bridge you enter
Ocean Grove, with RAAFS beach at the river
mouth extending down a long and friendly
stretch of beach to the Ocean Grove surf beach.
Extremely popular in summer with a large area
patrolled in front of the surf club, it is a family
favourite. The beach is great for beginners to
intermediates and you can even find your own
bit of sand if you don't mind a walk.
Surf tips
FROM COACH SAM EDWARDS
Why swim between the flags?
Some beaches will have the flags in the same
spot most times, others will move them
regularly, but either way you can be assured the
lifesavers on duty know that beach and have
checked the conditions and the forecasts to
make sure the flags are in the best location. On
top of that, this is the area lifesavers spend most
of their time watching and is the quickest for
them to get to in the event of an emergency.
Safety tips
FROM SURF LIFESAVER MARK GRAHAM Map of the region
POINT LONSDALE
POINT
LONSDALE
FELLOWS RD
OCEAN RD
POINT LONSDALE RD
SHELL RD
BELLARINE HWY
LAWRENCE RD
JORDAN RD
WILLIAMS RD
KIRK RD
GIANEUSE RD
WINTERLEY RD
NELSON RD
STAMONICA BLVD
HOLLYWOOD BLVD
Point Lonsdale
Golf Course
to
Queenscliff
to Ocean
Grove
EMILY ST
MURRAY
RD
SILVER RIDGE RD
PORTARLINGTON
A super safe north-facing skinny stretch of sand on
the shore of Corio Bay. On one side of the town's pier
there's a beach in front of the caravan park, on the
other side of the pier is the main town beach, right
outside the fish and chip shop.
OCEAN GROVE
Generally considered one of safest surf beaches
in Victoria, it's a long, popular stretch of sand with
plenty of small waves to have fun in. It's patrolled by
volunteer lifesavers on weekends and public holidays
between December 4 and April 26 and by paid
lifeguards all other days between December 13 and
February 12. Toilets, car park, cafe.
RAFFS BEACH/BARWON HEADS
The Barwon River on both the Ocean Grove and
Barwon Heads sides is very popular with people
taking advantage of the shelter. The river poses some
quite dangerous conditions often unnoticed by the
untrained eye, so take extreme caution. Lifesavers
from RAAFS or Ocean Grove will check crowds and
conditions at times, but are unable to be there all
day. Barwon Heads, with its shops and food outlets, is
only a few steps away. Patrolled from December 26 to
January 26. Toilets, barbecues, playground.
THIRTEENTH BEACH
Head over the bluff from the river mouth to Thirteenth
Beach to find a long rugged beach with rock pools
on low tide. Lifesavers at Clubbies beach in front of
the surf club will have the flags up in the best spot for
swimming. Car parks and toilets, steep steps down to
the beach.
BANCOORA
A popular beach with people staying at the nearby
caravan park and locals looking for a place away from
the crowds. It's sheltered and patrolled but there are
a few rips that can pop up and lifesavers will move the
flags regularly to ensure they are in the safest position,
so keep up and be aware. Toilets and car park.
Sea spots
OTHER BEACHES